Comparative Anatomical Evidence of Evolution

Question 1

What is comparative anatomy?

Answer 1

• the comparison of external and internal structures to find out how two organisms are related

Question 2

What are homologies?

Answer 2

• similar features between parts of different species or individuals that reflect common descent from a shared ancestor

Question 3

What does the number of shared homologous features indicate?

Answer 3

• how recently those 2 species diverged from a shared lineage

Question 4

What is the difference between homologous structures and homologies?

Answer 4

• homologous structures must be similar in fundamental structure, position and development
• homologies can be superficially different

Question 5

What is an example of a homology?

Answer 5

• the pentadactyl forelimb of vertebrates

Question 6

What are analogous structures?

Answer 6

• structures that are similar in different organisms because they evolved in a similar environment, rather than being inherited from a recent common ancestor